5-year-old Cat coming out of dental surgery goes into cardiac arrest and dies

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zweny

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I am grieving the loss of my most precious Little Girl who died a week ago today coming out of surgery for a post-tooth extraction abscess. She had had Sevoflurane anesthesia 5 weeks ago when she underwent a dental cleaning and 1 tooth extraction. Same anesthesia was used last week to drain an abscess that had formed under her chin/jaw. Procedure went fine. Coming out of anesthesia, she went into cardiac arrest. Two vets and 2 vet techs worked on her for about 50 minutes. Finally, they were able to get a strong heart beat but she wouldn't breathe on her own. I am absolutely heartbroken that I lost my Little Girl. She was in fine health. Her pre-op blood was negative. My vet was very upset and spoke with an anesthesia specialist (vet) re the incident. The specialist was baffled also by the occurrence. I trust my vets and find no fault with them. Has anyone else experienced this horrific situation with the heart stopping, then finally starting but the cat unable to breathe on her own?
Zweny
 
yayi

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I am so very sorry for your loss. 


There is always risks with anesthesia. I too lost a cat but unlike you, the vet was incompetent. He lacked experience and overdosed my boy. 
This happened more than 10 years ago and the anesthetic was given as an injection. 

RIP Little Girl 
 
imbri

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My heart goes out to you, how horrible!  Sevo is one of the safest anesthetics out there but as yayi said there is always risk.  I've been in the veterinary medicine field for over 10 years now and I've seen this happen a few times (twice with anesthesia, once with sedation).  Sadly without a necropsy there is no way to tell exactly what happened, but it sounds like your Little Girl had heart disease going in and the anesthesia was just too much for her.   Heart disease is hard to catch in cats (and dogs, and people) since often you don't know there is a problem until there is a big problem.

I'm so very sorry for your loss, I cannot imagine how you must be feeling right now.  You did the best you could for her, and it sounds like your veterinary team tried their hardest to save her.  many, many *HUGS* for you.
 
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abisiobhan

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I have heard, of it but typically BEFORE a y dental work an e hocardiogram or other procedure is done so a. Appropriate safer. Anesthesia (propofol is. Best or some other situation found..
 
mewlittle

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Zweny said:
I am grieving the loss of my most precious Little Girl who died a week ago today coming out of surgery for a post-tooth extraction abscess. She had had Sevoflurane anesthesia 5 weeks ago when she underwent a dental cleaning and 1 tooth extraction. Same anesthesia was used last week to drain an abscess that had formed under her chin/jaw. Procedure went fine. Coming out of anesthesia, she went into cardiac arrest. Two vets and 2 vet techs worked on her for about 50 minutes. Finally, they were able to get a strong heart beat but she wouldn't breathe on her own. I am absolutely heartbroken that I lost my Little Girl. She was in fine health. Her pre-op blood was negative. My vet was very upset and spoke with an anesthesia specialist (vet) re the incident. The specialist was baffled also by the occurrence. I trust my vets and find no fault with them. Has anyone else experienced this horrific situation with the heart stopping, then finally starting but the cat unable to breathe on her own?
Zweny
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Maybe the infection in the absect went into her heart i have heard of that before and i'm so sorry about your loss R.I.P Little Girl
 
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zweny

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I have also heard that gingivitis bacteria can get into the bloodstream and be damaging to the heart ( human or animal). Little Girl had a teeth cleaning and one extraction 5 weeks prior to the abscess.
Zweny
 
jennyr

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I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I will lock this thread now. When you feel able, please post a tribute on the Bridge Forum.
 
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